3 Ways To Make A Difference

Many of us are waking up Monday morning, weary and defeated. Just days after celebrating the birth of our nation, the brutal deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile forced us to take a hard look at ourselves, and to remember that though America was built on mighty ideals, it was also done in the shadow of slavery, injustice, and violence.

As much as we have grown, for all of the good that has been accomplished, these tragedies are a chilling wake up call to some, and a bleak reminder to others that racism and injustice are not simply a part of our history, but something we must continue to fight against. Still in grief, the horror was compounded by the shooting in Dallas at a peaceful protest that left five police officers dead. Marches and protests have erupted around the country, and it is clear that we as a nation are at a turning point.

It is difficult to make sense of what has happened and to still feel hope. On the heels of recent mass shootings and acts of terrorism here and abroad, it would be easy and understandable to collapse into fear and desperation. Our world is broken, there is no denying. Still, amidst all the sadness and anger, most will ask, “What can I do?” There is hope there, in just that small phrase. It is the hope that these circumstances are not permanent. That we can affect change and learn from our mistakes. That our world can be healed and brought to a higher state of consciousness and peace.   

So what can we do?

Grieve

We have all heard of the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. We as individuals, and we as a nation are in grief. When we see denial or anger, most often there is a profound sadness below the surface. As difficult as it may be, we need to acknowledge our grief and help each other through it. It’s okay to be sad and devastated. We need to embrace that process in order to begin healing.

Listen

We need to listen with open hearts to those who have been directly affected by injustice. It is not enough to read op-ed pieces and to understand intellectually. We need to listen with our hearts to real people who love, grieve, and hurt, just like we do. If we want to come together, we must seek to understand those who we are still distant from. It can be uncomfortable to face our own shortcomings, but the more we challenge our perceptions and seek to love our fellow humans, the closer we come to the heart of God and thus a more peaceful world.

Reach Out

Be a helping hand for those who need it. Express your love and support for those who have been directly affected. Donate to a cause that relates to social justice. Whether you participate in a march or call a friend, there are numerous ways that we can offer love and support. When we put ourselves in service to others, it can help heal our own sadness as well as be a catalyst for the greater change that we want to see.

It may seem like the recent conflicts have to do with two opposing groups, the African American community and the Police, but we are all connected. This is more than a racial divide or departmental corruption, this is our society, our country, and each one of us can decide to either ignore it or become a part of the solution. That is where the hope is, that it is within our power to do something, to contribute to the march toward equality and peace.

Follow Laurel Nakai on Facebook (@laurelnakaimusic). Her recent post features a song dedicated to #BlackLivesMatter.